Garment removal apparatus

ABSTRACT

A garment removal apparatus is described for removing garments from garment forms with the garment hung on hangers and then conveying the garment from the form. The removal apparatus includes a hanger-supporting means formed in the neck and shoulder section of the garment form to receive hangers. After a hanger is mounted in the hanger support means, the garment is mounted on the form about the hanger. A hanger-lifting means is operated to engage and lift the hanger and garment from the form.

United States Patent 2,551,209 5/1951 Glover et a1. 223/70 X 2,997,133 8/1961 Gehrke 198/177 X 3,454,148 7/1969 Harrison 198/28 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Alfred N. Goodman Attorney-Wells, St. John & Roberts ABSTRACT: A garment removal apparatus is described for removing garments from garment forms with the garment hung on hangers and then conveying the garment from the form. The removal apparatus includes a hanger-supporting means formed in the neck and shoulder section of the garment form to receive hangers. After a hanger is mounted in the hanger support means, the garment is mounted on the form about the hanger. A hanger-lifting means is operated to engage and lift the hanger and garment from the form.

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PATENTEBunv 16 Ian SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR. Jerry N McMillan BY GARMENT REMOVAL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to garment conveying apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for removing garments from garment finishing equipment.

One of the most time-consuming operations associated with the handling, pressing, and finishing of garments is the dismounting operation of the garment from the pressing and finishing garment forms and the hanging of the garments on hangers for transport to other operations such as packaging. Almost invariably, the operation is accomplished manually which necessarily limits the productivity of the particular laundry or drycleaning establishment.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus capable of removing garments from pressing and finishing equipment, hanging the garments automatically on hangers, and transporting the hung garments to another location.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a garment removal apparatus for removing neck-opening garments from garment forms in such a manner that the garments are automatically hung on hangers.

A further object of this invention is to provide garment removal equipment that is extremely simple in operation yet quite effective in removing garments from gan'nent forms.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a garment removal apparatus that requires a minimum of floor space and which does not hinder the operator in mounting garments on the equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide a garment removal apparatus that may be utilized in high-production equipment in which the garment forms are indexed from a mounting station to a finishing station and then to a dismounting station and then back to the mounting station.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a garment removal apparatus that is quite inexpensive to manufacture and which is relatively simple to operate and maintain.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. I is a front view of a conventional hanger;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a garment-finishing machine which incorporates the novel garment removal apparatus containing the principal features of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 3- 3 in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4,5 and 6 are sequence front views of the garment removal apparatus showing a garment being removed from a garment form;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary exposed view of a section of the garment removal apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is an illustration cross-sectional view taken along line 99 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings; there is shown in FIG. 2, a garment removal apparatus 10 for removing garments 12 from garment pressing and finishing equipment and to automatically hang the garment on hangers as the garments are being removed from the equipment. The garments with which this invention is concerned have shoulder segments 13 with neck openings 14. Examples of such garments include shirts, smocks, gowns, dresses, and other similar garments that are normally hung on hangers 16 with the hooks 20 extending upward through the neck openings. 14. Such hangers (FIG. 1)

have two shoulder segments 17 and 18 that extend outwardly to the hood 20. Generally an interconnecting element 21 extends between the shoulder segment 17 and 18.

The garment removal apparatus 10 includes a frame 25 having a base 26. A garment form or mannequin 27 is mounted upright on the base 26 for receiving and supporting the garment during a finishing or pressing operation or both.

The garment form 27, as shown, has a padded front panel 30 and a back panel 31 (FIG. 3) with side stretchers 32 and 33 moving between the panels 30 and 31 for extending outwardly to the sides for stretching and holding the garment on the form 27. The form 27 has a shoulder and neck section 35 at the top thereof for supporting the neck and shoulder portion of the garment and aligning the garment on the form in relation to the neck opening 14. Frequently the shoulder and neck section 35 have holes 36 formed therein for permitting steam and air to flow upward therethrough for conditioning the shoulder and neck portion of the garment. Front clamps 38 are mounted on the front panel for enabling the operator to secure the front of the garment to the form.

The garment removal apparatus 10 includes a hanger support means 40 (FIG. 3) that is incorporated within the shoulder and neck section 35 of the garment form for receiving a hanger, such as the one shown in FIG. I. The hanger support means includes a substantially vertical slot 41 that extends downwardly in to the shoulder and neck from a sufficient distance or depth to support the shoulder and neck section as shown in figs. 2-4. The slot 41 is defined by a backwall 42 and a front wall 43 (FIG. 3). The front and backwall 42 and 43 are contoured at location 45 near the opening 46 to frictionally engage the hanger and to provide a slight bending movement or bowing of the hanger to grip the hanger in the slot so that the hanger will not be dislodged from the shoulder and neck section while the operator is placing the garment over the form.

It should be noted that the hanger when mounted in the hanger support means is substantially confined within the periphery of the shoulder and neck section so that the hanger is not in the way of the operator in mounting a garment on the form. The shoulder sections 17 and 18 of the hanger are substantially confined within the shoulder and neck section except that the ends may extend outward to the sides of the neck and shoulder forms, as shown in FIG. 2. Such an arrangement enables the operator to efiiciently place the garment on the form with the hook 20 extending up through the neck opening of the garment as shown in FIG. 4.

The garment removal apparatus further includes a hangerlifting means 50 that is mounted on the frame in a substantially upright manner with a hook-engaging means 53 for engaging the hanger hook and lifting the hook including the mounted garment from the garment form, and carrying the suspended garment upwardly away from the garment form.

The hanger-lifting means 50 includes a subframe 51 elevated above the garment form 27 with a continuous conveyor 52 mounted thereon. The hook engaging means 53 is affixed to the continuous conveyor.

The continuous conveyor 52 includes a continuous chain 54 mounted between an upper sprocket 55 and a lower sprocket 56. The movement of the chain in the clockwise movement when viewed from the front (FIGS. 2 and 4) defines an upward flight 57 and a downward flight 58. The lower sprocket 56 is positioned adjacent to the hanger support means 40 so that the hook-engaging means 53 defines a path that intersects the hanger hook 20 when the hanger is mounted in the hanger support means 40. The upper sprocket 56 is positioned at an elevated location of sufficient height so the garment is clear of the garment form 27 and may be transported to another station or operation.

It should be noted that the continuous chain 54 is mounted in a plane that is substantially parallel yet spaced from the hook 20 when the hanger is mounted in the hanger support means 40. The hook-engaging means 53 includes a pin or small rod 68 that has one end affixed to one of the chain links and the other end extending outwardly to the side of the chain a sufficient distance to engage the hook when the pin 68 rounds the lower sprocket and begins to move in the upward flight 57 as shown in FIG. 4. The pin 68 extends outward from the chain in a substantially horizontal orientation so that the hanger will not slip from the pin. Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to have the pin extend at a slight upward angle or to have an abutment affixed on the outer end to make sure that the hanger does not slip from the end of the pin.

A drive means is connected to the chain for driving the chain. The lower sprocket 56 is mounted on a shaft 74 (FIG. 7) that has a pulley 75 mounted thereon. A belt 76 extends from the pulley 75 to a pulley 77 that is mounted on a drive motor 78.

The hanger lifting means also includes a front plate 60 that is mounted in front of the continuous chain 54 with an elongated continuous slot 62 formed therein for enabling the pin 68 to extend outwardly therefrom for picking up the hanger and moving the hanger up to the elevated position. The front plate 60 has a central sheet 63 that covers the sprocket and the chain. Side sheets 64 and 65 extend around the sides of the subframe 51 to enclose the chain 54. The front plate 60 prevents the garment from becoming entangled or soiled by engagement with the chain.

Immediately behind the central sheet 63 along the downward flight 58, is mounted a backing plate 79 (FIG. 8). A microswitch 80 is mounted opposite the backing plate 79 for engagement and activation by the pin 68 when the pin moves along the downward flight.

The garment removal apparatus 10 further includes a garment transferring and conveying means 82 that has na inclined rod 83 extending upwardly terminating at an upper end 84 adjacent the sprocket 55. The upper end 84 terminates inside and along the downward flight of the chain. As shown in this embodiment the upper end of the rod 84 is welded or affixed to the central sheet 63 The upper end 84 intersects the path of the hanger hook as the hanger hook is moved along the downward flight of the conveyor.

In the operation of this equipment, a hanger 16 is initially mounted in the hanger support means 40 with the hook 20 extending above the neck and shoulder section 35 and opened toward the right as shown in FIG. 2. The operator then places the garment on the garment form 27 for conditioning and pressing. After the garment has been conditioned and pressed, the operator initiates the operation of the motor 78 to move the pin from the location shown in FIG. 2 to the location shown in FIG. 4 with the pin moving into the open hook 20 and engaging the hook as the pin moves along the upward flight to lift the hanger from the hanger support means 40 and to draw'or lift the garment from the garment form 27 as shown in FIG. 5. It should be noted that the garment is automatically suspended or hung on the hanger as the hanger is lifted from the hanger support means 40. As the pin rounds the upper sprocket 56 and moves into the downward flight 58 the hook engages the upper end 84 of the inclined rod 83 and is supported thereon. The continued movement of the pin 68 disengages the pin from the hanger with the hanger sliding down the inclined rod 83. The rod 83 is inclined at an angle sufficient to cause the suspended garment to move by gravity laterally from the garment form 27. The pin 68 continues along the downward flight 58 until it engages the microswitch 80. The microswitch 80 stops the motor 78 with the pin 68 stopping at the position shown in FIG. 2.

In this particular embodiment, the garment removal apparatus I is included in and is part of a garment-finishing machine 100 that is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9. The garment finishing machine includes a rotatable base 101 with a plurality of upright dividers I02 dividing the base into thirds. Three mannequins 27 are mounted on the base 101 at the equally spaced angular intervals.

The garment-finishing machine has an indexing device, which is not shown as many conventional indexing devices can be readily utilized. Such indexing device successively angularly indexes the garment forms 27 from a mounting station 103, to a finishing station 104 and then to a dismounting sta tion 105 and then back to the mounting station I03. The finishing station 104 includes an enclosure cabinet 107. At station 104 the garment is subjected to steam and hot air to condition the garment. A pressing element 108 is also mounted within the cabinet 107 for pressing the garment at the finishing station 104. The pressing element is operated by an actuator 111 that moves the pressing element 108 against the front panel 30 of the garment form. A fan 112 is mounted on the the top of the cabinet as shown in FIG. 2 for removing the steam and hot air from the cabinet. It should be noted that the dividers 102 form part of the cabinet. A microswitch 113 is mounted on the frame 25 for sensing when the mannequins or garment forms have been indexed forward 120 to a new location. In this context, each of the three garment forms 27 have hanger support means incorporated within the shoulder and neck sections 35. The hanger lifting means 50 is located at the dismounting station 105.

During the operation of the garment-finishing machine the operator initially mounts a hanger in the hanger support means 40 of the garment form 27 that is located at the mounting station 103. The operator then places the garment over the form. The operator then initiates the operation of the indexing drive to move the mounted garment to the finishing station 104. Steam and air is directed against the garment to condition the garment. The front of the gannent is pressed by the pressing element 108. While the garment is being conditioned and pressed at the finishing station I04, another hanger and garment are being mounted on the next garment form. After a garment has been conditioned and pressed at the finishing station 104, the operator indexes the base I01 to move the finished garment to the dismounting station I05. When the finished garment is moved to the dismounting station 105, the switch I13 is actuated to operate the motor 78. The motor 78 then moves the pin into engagement with the hook and lifts the hook and garment with from the garment form 27 located at the station and carries the garment up to the off-loading rod 83. The garment then slides down the rod 83 to another location.

It should be understood that the above described embodiment is simply illustrative of the principals of this invention and that numerous other embodiments can be readily designed depending upon the use desired without deviating from this invention. Therefore, only the following claims are intended to define this invention.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A garment removal apparatus for removing a garment having a neck opening from a garment-finishing form and for automatically mounting the removed garment on a hanger having a hook, comprising;

a. a hanger support means mounted on the form for supporting the hanger in an upright orientation with the hook extending upward through the neck opening of a garment mounted on the form; and

b. hanger-lifting means including a hook-engaging member moveable in a path that intersects the position of the hanger hook as supported by the hanger support means for lifting the hanger and moving the garment relative to the garment form to remove the garment from the form with the garment suspended on the hanger.

2. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the garment form has a shoulder and neck section in which the hanger support means is incorporated therein for supporting a hanger substantially within the profile of the shoulder and neck section with the hook extending upward therefrom.

3. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the hanger support means includes a slot formed in the shoulder and neck section defined by spaced walls in which the slot is of sufficient depth to receive the hanger with the hook extending upward therefrom.

4. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein one of the spaced walls is contoured to bow the hanger slightly when the hanger is inserted in the slot to releaseably grip the hanger and hold the hanger firmly within the slot to prevent the hanger from being dislodged from the slot when a garment is mounted on the form.

5. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the hanger-lifting means includes a continuous conveyor that is mounted in an upright orientation with the hook engaging member affixed to the conveyor for moving in a continuous path that intersects the position of the hook when the hanger is supported by the hanger support means and extends upward in an upward flight and then down in a downward flight.

6. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the continuous conveyor includes an endless chain mounted between a lower sprocket and an upper sprocket and wherein the hook-engaging means include a pin affixed to the chain and extending outward therefrom.

7. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the chain is mounted in a plane substantially parallel to the hanger hook when supported by the hanger support means and wherein the pin extends outward from one side of the chain a sufficient distance to engage the hook.

8. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a garment transfer means for transferring the suspended garment from the hanger-lifting means after the garment has been removed from the form.

9. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising a garment transfer and conveying means for removing the hanger and suspended garment from the hook-engaging member along the downward path.

10. The garment removal apparatus 5 define in claim 9 wherein the garment transfer and conveying means includes an inclined rod having an upper end intersecting the path of the hanger hook for engaging the hanger hook and removing the hanger hook and the suspended garment from the hookengaging means as the hook-engaging means moves thereby.

11. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the garment form is mounted on a moveable frame that is indexed to a dismounting station adjacent the hanger lifting means and wherein the garment removal apparatus includes a drive means responsive to the positioning of the garment form at the dismounting station for selectively operating the hanger-lifting means to remove the garment mounted on the garment form.

12. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim ll wherein the hanger-lifting means includes an endless conveyor mounted in an upright orientation having an upward flight and a downward flight with the hook-engaging means afiixed to the conveyor and extending outward therefrom for engaging the hanger hook when the hook-engaging means moves along the upward flight.

13. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising a garment transfer and conveying means mounted along the downward flight for removing the anger and suspended garment from the hanger-lifting means when the hook-engaging means moves along the downward flight.

14. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the garment removal apparatus is part of a garmentfinishing machine capable of; (l) finishing garments; (2) mounting the finished garments on hangers; and (3) conveying the hung garments from the finishing machine, said machine having a frame with a plurality of garment forms mounted thereon for indexing between a mounting station, a finishing station, and a dismounting station and wherein the hanger lifting means is responsive to the indexing of a garment form at the dismounting station for removing the hanger and mounted garment from the form and wherein the garment removal apparatus further includes a garment transfer and conveyor means for removing the hanger and suspended garment from the hanger-lifting means and conveying the garment from the garmentfinishir g n aclline. 

1. A garment removal apparatus for removing a garment having a neck opening from a garment-finishing form and for automatically mounting the removed garment on a hanger having a hook, comprising; a. a hanger support means mounted on the form for supporting the hanger in an upright orientaTion with the hook extending upward through the neck opening of a garment mounted on the form; and b. hanger-lifting means including a hook-engaging member moveable in a path that intersects the position of the hanger hook as supported by the hanger support means for lifting the hanger and moving the garment relative to the garment form to remove the garment from the form with the garment suspended on the hanger.
 2. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the garment form has a shoulder and neck section in which the hanger support means is incorporated therein for supporting a hanger substantially within the profile of the shoulder and neck section with the hook extending upward therefrom.
 3. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the hanger support means includes a slot formed in the shoulder and neck section defined by spaced walls in which the slot is of sufficient depth to receive the hanger with the hook extending upward therefrom.
 4. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein one of the spaced walls is contoured to bow the hanger slightly when the hanger is inserted in the slot to releaseably grip the hanger and hold the hanger firmly within the slot to prevent the hanger from being dislodged from the slot when a garment is mounted on the form.
 5. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the hanger-lifting means includes a continuous conveyor that is mounted in an upright orientation with the hook-engaging member affixed to the conveyor for moving in a continuous path that intersects the position of the hook when the hanger is supported by the hanger support means and extends upward in an upward flight and then down in a downward flight.
 6. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the continuous conveyor includes an endless chain mounted between a lower sprocket and an upper sprocket and wherein the hook-engaging means include a pin affixed to the chain and extending outward therefrom.
 7. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the chain is mounted in a plane substantially parallel to the hanger hook when supported by the hanger support means and wherein the pin extends outward from one side of the chain a sufficient distance to engage the hook.
 8. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a garment transfer means for transferring the suspended garment from the hanger-lifting means after the garment has been removed from the form.
 9. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising a garment transfer and conveying means for removing the hanger and suspended garment from the hook-engaging member along the downward path.
 10. The garment removal apparatus as define in claim 9 wherein the garment transfer and conveying means includes an inclined rod having an upper end intersecting the path of the hanger hook for engaging the hanger hook and removing the hanger hook and the suspended garment from the hook-engaging means as the hook-engaging means moves thereby.
 11. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the garment form is mounted on a moveable frame that is indexed to a dismounting station adjacent the hanger lifting means and wherein the garment removal apparatus includes a drive means responsive to the positioning of the garment form at the dismounting station for selectively operating the hanger-lifting means to remove the garment mounted on the garment form.
 12. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the hanger-lifting means includes an endless conveyor mounted in an upright orientation having an upward flight and a downward flight with the hook-engaging means affixed to the conveyor and extending outward therefrom for engaging the hanger hook when the hook-engaging means moves along the upward flight.
 13. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 12 further comprising a garment transfer and conveying means mounted along the downward flight for removing the hanger and suspended garment from the hanger-lifting means when the hook-engaging means moves along the downward flight.
 14. The garment removal apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the garment removal apparatus is part of a garment-finishing machine capable of; (1) finishing garments; (2) mounting the finished garments on hangers; and (3) conveying the hung garments from the finishing machine, said machine having a frame with a plurality of garment forms mounted thereon for indexing between a mounting station, a finishing station, and a dismounting station and wherein the hanger lifting means is responsive to the indexing of a garment form at the dismounting station for removing the hanger and mounted garment from the form and wherein the garment removal apparatus further includes a garment transfer and conveyor means for removing the hanger and suspended garment from the hanger-lifting means and conveying the garment from the garment-finishing machine. 